If modern medicine were to disappear from Nigeria, it would certainly affect the country. As the country depends on both traditional and modern medicine. The modern medicine is used in modern health facilities such as hospitals, and clinics, while the traditional medicine is used in rural areas(not only rural areas as people in the city also makes use of it).
Traditional medicine is part of Nigeria's culture, with herbal treatments using plants like dongoyaro leaf (neem leaf) to cure malaria and also mixture of other leaves such as mango leaves, guava leaves and lemon grass to cure various ailments. These natural remedies have stood the test of time and still work today. Our forefathers depended on traditional medicine before modern medicine came into existence. I am pretty sure that most of our grandparents still prefer traditional medicine to modern medicine.
How would a world without modern medicine look like?
In a world without modern medicine, we would see people eager to have herbal knowledge. People will energetically learn about which plants can heal and how to use them. We'd see gardens full of medicinal herbs in every backyard, and searching in the wild would become a crucial skill, which everyone would know.
For common sicknesses like headaches, colds, and minor infections, herbs could be quite effective. Peppermint might ease digestive issues, while echinacea - known in English as purple coneflower, could boost our immune systems. Garlic, with its natural antibiotic properties, would become a staple in every kitchen. I'm sure majority of people use garlic to cook not knowing it's medicinal purpose.
Can herbs replace modern medicine?
Let's come to reality, herbs alone can't replace modern medicine. When it comes to serious diseases, chronic conditions, or emergencies, we'd certainly be in trouble. Let's imagine someone have heart attack, no herb can be used to replace a defibrillator.
Cancer patients would loose chemotherapy treatments. Diabetic patients won't have insulin to use, people with mental issue will be without medication to keep them stabilized. The absence of these modern treatments would lead to serious suffering and, sadly, many preventable deaths.
People would be scared to get pregnant, as childbirth would be very risky without modern intervention. Infections that are now considered as minor would become life threatening, diseases that have nearly been eradicated through vaccines would come back.
The elderly and those with chronic conditions would be hit the hardest. Their quality of life would decrease because they don't have the medicine they rely on. It would be heartbreaking to think of grandparents struggling without their blood pressure or arthritis medications.
Herbs can definitely help is survive and fight some sicknesses but we can't rely on them 100%. They're wonderful supplements to a healthy lifestyle and can treat many minor sickness, but they can't replace the complex, targeted treatments that modern medicine provides for serious conditions.
The loss of modern medicine would be a huge step backward for humanity. While we could survive on herbs for some time, our lifespans would likely shorten, and our quality of life would decrease. We'd lose the ability to treat many diseases and conditions that are now considered manageable.